Abigail McCarthy

Abigail Quigley McCarthy (April 16 1915, Wabasha, Minnesota – February 1 2001, Washington, D.C.) was an American academic and writer, best known as the wife of politician and presidential contender Eugene McCarthy. She predeceased her estranged husband by almost five years.

They met as teachers in Mandan, North Dakota and were wed on June 5 1945 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Their first home was in Watkins, Minnesota at an agriculture commune formed by Catholic couples. In later years, following their separation (see Eugene McCarthy), they lived separately, however they never divorced. She had an apartment in Washington, D.C. on Connecticut Avenue, which is where she died in 2001, aged 85.

Children

Eugene and Abigail McCarthy had four children: Michael Benet McCarthy, Ellen McCarthy, Margaret Alice McCarthy and the late Mary Abigail McCarthy (died July 28 1990).

Education

Abigail Quigley graduated as a Phi Beta Kappa from St. Catherine's College in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1936. She received her M.A. from the University of Minnesota in 1942 and did post-graduate work at the University of Chicago and the Middlebury School of English.

Career

Abigail Quigley McCarthy was a Catholic author, educator, and activist. She wrote several successful books and was a regular columnist for "Commonweal", a liberal Catholic magazine, from 1974-1999. She wrote reviews for "The New York Times" and"The Washington Post". She founded and was first president of Church Women United, a lay Catholic group.

Legacy

The Abigail Quigley McCarthy Women's Research, Resources and Scholarship Center was established at her alma mater, St. Catherine's College, in her honor.

External links

* [http://www.stkate.edu/centerforwomen St Catherine's College, Minnesota]
* [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1252/is_4_128/ai_71578871 Findarticles.com]
* [http://marriage.about.com/b/2005/12/11/eugene-and-abigail-mccarthys-marriage-and-long-separation.htm In re the McCarthys' long separation]